Tyson, Cobb-Vantress partner to grow OneEgg program

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc. has announced a $341,490 grant to non-profit organization OneEgg in an effort to combat hunger in Haiti. Approximately 100,000 children under the age of five suffer from hunger in the island nation partly due to a lack of animal protein. OneEgg will use the grant to construct an egg production farm that will provide undernourished children with animal protein while creating a sustainable business model from the sale of eggs.

At full capacity, the farm will include three laying houses, a brooding house with a 10,500-bird capacity and the ability to produce up to 7,000 eggs a day.

Tyson Foods and its subsidiary, Cobb-Vantress, have provided assistance and training to OneEgg projects in the past (Rwanda and Uganda), but this grant is the first financial commitment. The farm in Haiti will create jobs for the local residents and produce a steady supply of eggs to me made available at local markets. All proceeds from the farm will remain in Haiti and sustain the farms’ operation.

“We’re extremely grateful to Tyson Foods and Cobb-Vantress for this generous gift to OneEgg Haiti,” said Chris Ordway, executive director of OneEgg, in a statement. “The opportunity to create a sustainable, egg-producing farm will have a lasting and life-changing impact on the people of Haiti.”

Students and faculty from the Univ. of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and the school’s System Division of Agriculture will document construction of the farm and its economic model. Also, the university will conduct nutrition research on the children receiving eggs in an effort to evaluate the program.

“While the primary goal is to get protein-packed eggs into the diets of Haitian children, another important aim of this grant is to get college students involved in international research and outreach in developing countries like Haiti,” said Jefferson Miller, professor of agricultural communications with joint appointments within Bumpers and the Division of Agriculture. “We’ll have graduate and undergraduate students involved in the project. It’s a great opportunity for these young people to get some practical experience with an international focus.”

In addition, the project will provide research, education and investigation into the value of eggs on the physical development of children. Other developing countries that could implement the farm business model also will have access to it.

“Tyson Foods and Cobb-Vantress firmly believe in offering assistance to those in need by sharing our knowledge and experience,” said Dave Juenger, senior advisor, CVI support services, Cobb-Vantress. “As a result, the children of Haiti have a greater chance at a healthy life, and the people of Haiti have a greater opportunity to be self-sufficient.”

“We’re raising the world’s expectations for the good food can do,” said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “The OneEgg Haiti project is a perfect example of our purpose coming to life and the integration of sustainable thinking throughout our work.”

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READER COMMENTS (1)

By
Alan lazar
5/3/2017 3:25:55 PM

This project sounds really good!!!
Finally more help to the great people of Haiti